title: Development and evaluation of immunoblot-based serodiagnostic tests for hydatid infection in macropodids.
abstract: This study examined the suitability of immunoblot assays using antigen B from hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) and the recombinant protein EpC1 to estimate the prevalence of hydatid infection in threatened small macropodid populations. When HCF antigen B was used on sera from 29 wild eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) examined for the presence of hydatid cysts at necropsy (17 positive and 12 negative), and from five captive-bred macropodids, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 41%, respectively. Following optimization, the use of rEpC1 on sera from 51 wild eastern grey kangaroos (48 positive and 3 negative at necropsy), and from 9 captive bred macropodids, resulted in sensitivity and specificity of 48% and 92% respectively.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, QLD, 4072, Australia. t.barnes@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Tamsin S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Glen T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McManus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000469:parasitology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity